Yong Hua Wreck - Koh Lanta & Phi Phi

We love a good wreck, and the Yong Hua is easily our favourite artificial reef in the Phi Phi area. Dropping down onto the deck, you immediately feel the history – this old tin dredger, scuttled years ago, has truly become part of the seascape. You can spend an entire dive exploring the holds, peering into the machinery spaces, and navigating the superstructure. It's an intricate maze, but never claustrophobic, with plenty of entry and exit points. Look closely and you'll spot the resident occupants: a giant moray eel often pokes its head out from a pipe, while schools of snapper shimmer like silver confetti around the winches. We’ve seen robust ghost pipefish tucked against the barnacled railings and ornate cuttlefish pulsing with colour near the propeller. It's a proper adventure dive, best suited for experienced divers comfortable with overhead environments and a bit of current. To really appreciate it, we'd suggest going early in the morning before the day trippers arrive; the light filtering through the water into the holds is magical then.

Location

Koh Lanta & Phi Phi, Thailand, Southeast Asia

Coordinates

6.483886, 99.283360

Type

wreck

Marine Protected Area: Tarutao